Warming up to the Northwest!

We DO really like it here -- the trees -- every hue of green , every size, every shape, everywhere. The water -- flowing gently, rushing, foaming, trickling, lakefuls, riverfuls, everywhere. The blue sky and puffy billowy clouds.

And then there's the traffic ... and the people ... not so much!

But we like to dwell on the first part of the list. We found a national forest (Wenatchee) campground that was right beside a little creek. And we found a campsite right beside the little creek. And we found a HOARD of mosquitos right around US! So we stayed inside the MoHo, but even from inside we were gazing on the water -- so nice and refreshing. That contraption out in the water catches fish so the forest service can tag them and get all sorts of data from them. The gadget in the last picture is one of our Christmas presents from Gary -- very useful idea for checking to see if the MoHo is level -- the lights turn from red to green when we are level. Works great. We do have auto-leveling in the MoHo but we usually have to tweak it a bit. Thanks Gary.

We arrived in Issaquah at our RV park yesterday about noon and got settled. We went out to eat with Greg and Heather at a delicious restaurant downtown Seattle -- of course I had to have fresh salmon --- mmmmm. Heather is ready to deliver those babies -- she says she hurts all over -- and so we think it will probably be this week sometime. She HOPEs it will be soon. They have everything ready for their arrival.

We went to Den and Roger's to do our laundry so now everything is washed and ironed. We will go over to Greg's tomorrow and see if there's anything we can help Heather with. Roger's family has been here for about a week; they are heading home Tuesday morning.

We don't have WiFi at the RV park but we will try and keep in touch via Roger's or Greg's WiFi.

Grand Coulee

For the first time in over 30 years (according to our campground host) there is water spilling over the top of the dam. All the generators are at capacity and so the surplus water is making a spectacular view for the locals and tourists. It is so loud it sounds like a freight train passing right next to our MoHo. We arrived at our campground early evening and after we checked in and found or site, we headed to the dam visitor center and ate supper sitting out on the benches and watching the water. We went to the visitor center and watched a video on the construction of the dam and then waited for the laser light show. It was impressive, depicting the history of the Columbia River.

We'll be in Issaquah tomorrow. A big thanks to Denise and Roger for getting someone to repair their fireplace -- now it's going to be in the 90's for awhile-ha!

Coeur d'Alene

Coeur d'Alene is a city, a lake, a bicycle trail, and probably the name of a hundred different businesses, but who would want to start a business name with this hard-to-spell, hard-to-pronounce name??? Of course French-speaking fur traders named Coeur d'Alene Lake after an indian tribe by that name. Leave it to the French!

We arrived here on Tuesday afternoon. We are in the city RV park -- our site is about 10-feet from the shoreline. SO nice with a cool breeze all the time. And the best part is that it is adjacent to the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes bicycle trail -- 70+ miles of VERY smooth asphalt. Right around the lake and up through the forest. Breathtaking ( in more ways than one!). Yesterday we rode about 20 miles and then turned around -- we had planned on going all the way to Plummer but Chuck realized he had lost his keys to the MoHo and we thought it would be best to re-trace our path to see if we could find them. Fortunately a group of people walking the trail had seen them and left them in a conspicuous location for us. Nice that we didn't have to "break into" the MoHo when we got back to our site.

So after that trial ride we got up this morning and started out for Plummer once again. We had a great ride -- saw several eaglets in nests along the path -- some nests out in the lake -- shared the path at one time with a white-tailed deer, saw a pileated woodpecker (we had not seen one since we were in Canada one year with Gary) lots of wildflowers and ferns everywhere. soaring pine trees, and an unusual bridge across the lake.

This bridge was originally a railroad bridge, but was converted for the trail. They raised the center so boats could go under it -- and they made the bridge with little level spaces in it so it wouldn't be so hard to climb on our bicycles. I think you can follow the line of the railing to see what I mean by that last statement.

Tomorrow we are heading westward again. On Greg's suggestion we will take highway #20 west and stop at Grand Coulee (sp) dam. Besides wanting to see the dam, there is a laser light show on the dam each night at 10pm throughout the summer. We definitely want to see that too. Probably won't have WiFi tomorrow night so this it for a day or so. I have been going to the library for WiFi since we got to Harrison. Nice that the libraries provide this service. I am going to leave a little donation on my way out today.

Lolo National Forest

One of the JOYS of retirement (sorry Den and Rog!) is to be able to get off the main road and see some of those spots that we always used to comment: Oh, we don't have time to do it THIS time but we'll do it NEXT time. Of course "NEXT time" never happens, as the "THIS time" comment happens once again. Today we saw a sign that said "Nine-mile Remount Depot and Ranger Station" and it was 4-miles off I-90. We decided to go see what it was all about. And of course we were so pleased we decided to go. From 1930 to 1953 a run-down ranch was purchased by the Forest service and evolved into a working ranch providing well equipped pack stock, experienced packers and transportation for fire fighting efforts and backcountry work projects. Much of the work done constructing roads, fences and buildings was done by the CCC in the 30's. Nice little museum hosted by "Splinter" the pack mule and a very informative guide to tell us all about pack mules, etc.

We are now settled into our campground in the little town of Garrison ID where we will ride a bicycle trail the next few days. Unfortunately 30-miles of it are closed due to a bridge out from a recent flood -- sound like the national news lately??? But we still have 20+ miles or so to ride, so we will get in enough. Our campsite is in the city park, right on the shore of Lake Cour da Lene(sp)-- beautiful!

MUSEUMS

We enjoy going to museums and it only took us a few days to find some on this trip. We spent a few hours this afternoon in Deer Lodge -- they have FIVE museums right downtown in this little place. The first one we went to was a toys and dolls museum. Really liked this doll the best of all we saw. The automobile museum was impressive -- not the largest we have seen but very good specimens of the old cars. The prison museum was kind of interesting but nothing a person wants to dwell on -- kind of depressing. We did all five and then drove up the road about 10 miles to our RV park. Nice park with lots of trees and grass AND WiFi all for $24. Much better than the ~$40 we have been paying. Onward west tomorrow. (You can always see a larger photo by clicking on the smaller photo.)

THE PHOTOS

MONTANA

The state had tons of snow, just like we did in Colorado. All the meadows, trees, wild flowers and fields of winter wheat (combined with a vibrant blue sky and puffy white clouds) are spectacular! Photos just don't do it justice -- well, MY photos anyway, but here are a couple of examples.

Earthquake Lake

Last night we stayed in an RV park about 5 miles north of West Yellowstone MT. Nice park, right on Hebgen Lake. We left there about 9am and drove north on Hwy 287 until we reached Earthquake Lake. This lake was formed when a 7.2 earthquake hit the area on August 17, 1959. Anybody remember that? I didn't; of course HE did! It caused a huge landslide as the whole front of this mountain came down across the highway and up the other side of the canyon. I think about 25 people were killed and another 200 were stranded and evacuated via helicopter. Very informative visitor center on the opposite hill with a DVD about the event.

Artistic Buffalo

Chicago started it all with cows; Des Moines has pigs; Michigan has moose; Victoria BC has bears; there are probably others... towns raise money for charities by having retailers sponsor an artist who agrees to put art work on a life-size animal. These artistic masterpieces are then auctioned off (usually the highest bidder is the retail store owner who displays them each summer.) The town of West Yellowstone MT decided to get in on the fun last summer; I had a chance to get a few pics of these buffalo on main street today.

Old Faithful

Sure, we have seen Old Faithful do its thing many times, but we just couldn't resist seeing it AGAIN -- so we left Fishing Bridge RV park early -- so early that we were the first ones in the parking lot at Old Faithful. After we watched it we walked over to the Old Faithful Inn . One of the old yellow buses was parked in the carport. We talked to one of the drivers and learned that 8 of the buses have been restored ($280,000 each!) and were re-introduced last summer. So we bought a ticket for the 45-minute tour. We learned that ours was a 1937 model and "back in the day" the Park had 120 white buses that picked up passengers who came to the park by train. They even picked up passengers as far away as Cody. It was fun to ride in the 14-passenger bus with the canvas top rolled back -- it was a beautiful day for a little trip in the mountains. There are longer tours -- 4-5 hours etc. But this one was just right for us.

MEECES

HOORAY -- we squeezed our MoHo through the east entrance gates to Yellowston Park. I don't think there was more than 3-inches on either side of our mirrors -- Chuck went REALLY slow through there and when he got to the window, he could reach out and touch the lady taking the entrance fees. We drove down the road and in less than 2 miles we saw a pull-off area and several cars parked there -- with the occupants standing on the banks of a little river. So we parked and I grabbed the camera and there were THREE moose -- two ladies and one gent. We were very close to them and they were just stripping those willow branches of their leaves as fast as they could. We stayed quite awhile and I took a bunch of pics and actually got a couple of good ones. It was so unusual to see them so close to the road! I was so excited, as I LOVE to watch those huge animals. Speaking of huge animals, a little further down the road we saw Buffalo -- also right beside the road. What a good day!

Westward Ho!

After days and days of loading the MoHo, mowing and trimming the lawn, cleaning the house, and bidding farewell to all the little bunnies, it still took us 3 hours to get on the road yesterday morning. Had a non-eventful (happily!) drive to Cody and arrived about 5:30pm. Amazing cloud formations in a deep blue sky (Denise says the sky is bluer in WY than anywhere) antelope and deer in the lush green fields, interesting rock formations, and miles and miles of very good roads made the trip a breeze. We are on our way to Yellowstone and will spend the night at Fishing Bridge RV park tonight. No Wifi there but who cares -- it's YELLOWSTONE -- one of our favorite parks to visit.

TWINS

Okay, so not exactly what you were expecting, but they really might be twins. There are so many of them that I am not sure which ones are twins, triplets, sextuplets -- you get the picture. For the last couple of years we have had a couple of rabbits in residence -- but they have not been smart enough to stay out of the road so they haven't multiplied. But his year -- The Year of the Twins -- they decided to join in the celebration. Now some people (my brother, for instance) might call them a nuisance. but I LOVE watching the little ones hopping all over the yard, stopping to munch on anything growing there. (They especially love the dandelions.) Can't step out of the house without seeing at least 3-4 of them. I am sure they are going to be happy when we leave for the summer so they won't have to dodge the vehicles and get scared by the lawn mower or other loud noises around here. (They may get a huge surprise if Muffy --Ron & Sue's little dog --comes to visit!)

My Mom

Yesterday was such a nice day so when I went to see Mom I decided to take her for a walk. I gathered up the necessities -- her hat, sunglasses, sweatshirt and sunscreen and we headed out the door. We went to the schulpture park and then crossed the street to the main park. Even though there were loads of kids on the swim beach, when we sat beside the lake, she needed the sweatshirt. Trust me, I didNOT need a sweatshirt -- but I WAS sweating! All in all we were gone for about 1.5 hours. Nice day. I took a pic of her room at the North Shore Care Center. She thinks it's a nice room! She doesn't spend much time in there except to sleep at night. She's usually scooting around the hallways or relaxing (sleeping???) in one of the large rooms at the end of each wing. She's getting more care than she did at the assisted living apartment, and it was definitely time for the transition. She's doing quite well for turning 98 in September.

I'm officially a blogger now

Heather started a blog about having twins and we have enjoyed checking it for updates each day. So I thought this would be an easy way to keep the family updated on our summer in Seattle to welcome our FIRST grandkids scheduled to arrival the first week in July.

We are already starting to get ready for trip. We will drive the MoHo to Seattle and help the economy on the way. Luckily we filled the gas tank back in March, so the initial shock won't come until the gage reads empty somewhere in another western state. We plan on stopping in Yellowstone and Idaho on the way . When we have WiFi available we'll add to the blog. Feel free to leave comments/questions for us here.